Aug 17 2010

The Feathered Fruit-eaters in our Garden.

Acacia Pied Barbet, Redeyed Bulbul & Cape White-eyes. Watercolour.325 x 505mm.

Some time ago I posted a blog featuring the seed-eaters under the title; ‘Feeding the Birds’.  I really love the birds, so I continue to photograph them in and around our garden. Those that come to the bird table outside my studio window are a wonderful and colourful distraction. We feed them seeds and crushed maize, bread crusts, grated cheese, dry cooked maize porridge called, ‘Umphokoqo’, and fruit. The oranges have to be attached with wire to keep them from falling onto the ground below.

Crested Barbet. Watercolour & Gouache 470 x 285 mm.

As it is the fruit-salad season at the moment, with oranges and paw-paws in abundance, I have kept the fruit–eating birds happy with all the fruit-skins that they enjoy. The first birds that come for them include; the Crested and Pied Barbets, the Mousebirds, The Red-eyed Bulbuls and many more. The Crested Barbet is so bright and cheerful while all around winter hues still drape the garden in sombre tones of ochre and grey, and the seed-eating weavers have yet to clothe themselves in their bright breeding plumage of red and yellow. Therefore I decided to make a small study of some of these fruit-eaters. The bright and dainty Cape White-eyes are my favourites, so I chose two compositions with them.

Mousebirds with Oranges. Watercolour. 385 x 265 mm.

Cape White-eyes on the Grapevine. Watercolour & Gouache. 290 x 420 mm.

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Jul 28 2010

A Pastoral Study of Winter Colours

Paardelaagte Farm Landscape. Watercolour 340 x 530 mm.

On the 12th July we travelled to a neighbouring farm, Cyferfontein to buy mealies for feeding our sheep. There were some wonderful scenes around the farm that I photographed, and more on our way home along part of the Orange River as far as the farm Paardelaagte. I returned home fuelled with inspiration for painting a set of the beautiful scenery we encountered. I am not really sure if I am finished, as there are  a couple more scenes that still tempt me; but I thought it an appropriate time to post these six pictures anyway.

Cyferfontein Farm Studies. Watercolour. 2 x 350 x 250 mm.

While painting I listened to many wonderful sermons from a host of enlightened and eloquent preachers, and I am delighted to have access to their insights into Scripture, and the Holy Word of God. Many of the sermons are available to download free of charge. Here are a few of the links: R.C.Sproul, John MacArthur, David Pawson, Free Audio Sermons.

View of Kramberg from Aylesby. Watercolour. 350 x 500 mm.

Cyferfontein Jerseys. Watercolour. 350 x 250 mm

Winter Pasture. watercolour. 250 x 350 mm.

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Jul 17 2010

Plein-Air Painting versus Studio-Studies

Excelsior Blue Gums. Watercolour, 270 x 380 mm.

Painting outdoors is always great  fun! It should never be viewed too seriously. It forces me to loosen up and break free from my usual painting processes. Usually, on these occasions,  the light changes rapidly or the rain threatens, the insects or the wind become tiresome, or there just isn’t the time to perfect a painting outside. So the trick is to make a start outside and when it becomes necessary to leave and return to the studio, take photos and then finish it off in the more comfortable surroundings of the studio.  Some pictures aren’t meant to be anything other than enjoyable outdoor recreation, or an exercises in preparation for studio compositions of the same subject. The atmosphere and surroundings have a unique influence on how we interpret what we see. Painting plein-air is undoubtedly a very valuable and pleasurable pursuit !

Fountain Poplar Grove. watercolour. 380 x 270 mm









View with Fountain Poplar. watercolour. 380 x 270 mm.




John & Sue Plein-air painting. April 2010. The Fountain, Silvermere.

John and Sue wanted to go and paint out in the veld on two recent visits to Silvermere, so we had some enjoyable outdoor painting excursions. Some were finished on site and others in the studio. On one occasion when it was cold and windy outdoors, we sat in the studio and chose a photo taken recently in the vicinity of the farmyard. There is no need to give up just because the weather is bad. This set of colour sketches resulted from those two visits. The one with the gate was painted entirely indoors, on a windy afternoon. continue reading

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Jun 29 2010

A Trio of Orders

Styger Farm House. 7may10. 700 x 500mm watercolour.

It has been impossible to link these three paintings with a theme, other than that they are the latest big orders that have challenged me since the last post was written. All are completed and have gone off to the respective clients. I did not schedule an exhibition this year, so have been blessed by these 3 good orders. How bountiful is the Lord in taking care of our needs!

Karoo landscape with Guinea Fowl, 21may10. Watercolour, 700 x 500mm.

Eighteen Animals Required. 23june10. Watercolour, 700 x 500mm.




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Apr 12 2010

Sheep May Safely Graze

Today I finished two paintings that brought to mind the beautiful Bach melody, ‘Sheep May Safely Graze’ , from his Cantata 208.


'Rain clouds over Bethulie.' Oil on canvas. 800 x 630 mm.


If you haven’t heard it or can’t remember it, you will find many lovely versions on YouTube.

Our sheep here on Silvermere do not graze safely, unfortunately. Predators like jackals and lynx are a constant threat and an ever increasing problem that has driven many neighbouring farmers to change over to cattle ranching instead.


'A Shady Tree on a Hot Day.' Watercolour on Pastel Paper. 290 x 475 mm.


How comforting it is for us to know that we have an all-powerful Shepherd, our Lord Jesus Christ, who cares for us. He overcame Satan and rescued us when He died on the Cross, and rose again for our sake. No matter how we are tested and challenged, He is our everlasting  Saviour and Protector;

11 “For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search and find my sheep. 12 I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day. 13 I will bring them back home to their own land of Israel from among the peoples and nations. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel and by the rivers and in all the places where people live. 14 Yes, I will give them good pastureland on the high hills of Israel. There they will lie down in pleasant places and feed in the lush pastures of the hills. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace, says the Sovereign LORD. 16 I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak. But I will destroy those who are fat and powerful. I will feed them, yes—feed them justice!”

-Ezekiel v 11–16. (NLT)



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